2011 Ford TRANSIT CONNECT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Ford TRANSIT CONNECT has 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: re: safety recall notice 12s36/nhtsa recall 12v-374. while at my dealership mac haik ford, 7201 s ih35. georgetown tx on 8/6/12, i was notified of this safety recall for my windshield wipers at which time the part(s) were ordered for this repair. my last communication with my dealership was yeste.

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

6 complaints

20%

• RE: SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 12S36/NHTSA RECALL 12V-374. WHILE AT MY DEALERSHIP MAC HAIK FORD, 7201 S IH35. GEORGETOWN TX ON 8/6/12, I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT WHICH TIME THE PART(S) WERE ORDERED FOR THIS REPAIR. MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH MY DEALERSHIP WAS YESTE
• WHILE DRIVING IN THE DOWN POURING RAIN THE VEHICLE WIPERS CAME OFF CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. *TR
• DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-95 ON A RAINY NIGHT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND GOT STUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR. EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY! LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. WAS IN FAMILIAR TERRITORY, SO I PULLED OFF INTO HIGHWAY SERVICE AREA AND MOVED

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“RE: SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 12S36/NHTSA RECALL 12V-374. WHILE AT MY DEALERSHIP MAC HAIK FORD, 7201 S IH35. GEORGETOWN TX ON 8/6/12, I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT WHICH TIME THE PART(S) WERE ORDERED FOR THIS REPAIR. MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH MY DEALERSHIP WAS YESTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

4 complaints

13%

• NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!
• DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY AT 80 MPH AND CAR STALLS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO THE SIDE RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER STARTED DOING AGAIN AND MORE OFTEN. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE MY CAR IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PUT A SCANNER ON THE CAR AND "THROTTLE
• PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND DID A BASIC TUNEUP, OIL CHANGE AND SPARK PLUGS. I ORDERED A AFTER MARKET FILTER FROM K&N AND HAD TO WAIT A WEEK BEFORE IT ARRIVED. AIR FILTER WAS NOT REPLACED YET BUT HOPING IT WOULD HELP WITH ACCELERATING. THE A/C WORKED WELL AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WAS DR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

4 complaints

13%

• NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE THROTT
• TRANSMISSION IS LOCKED AND IS BURN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

13%

• DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY AT 80 MPH AND CAR STALLS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO THE SIDE RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER STARTED DOING AGAIN AND MORE OFTEN. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE MY CAR IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PUT A SCANNER ON THE CAR AND "THROTTLE
• PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND DID A BASIC TUNEUP, OIL CHANGE AND SPARK PLUGS. I ORDERED A AFTER MARKET FILTER FROM K&N AND HAD TO WAIT A WEEK BEFORE IT ARRIVED. AIR FILTER WAS NOT REPLACED YET BUT HOPING IT WOULD HELP WITH ACCELERATING. THE A/C WORKED WELL AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WAS DR
• WHEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE VAN IT DOES NOT ALWAYS UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS FOR THE SLIDING DOORS HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE FRONT SEATS TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THEM DIFFICULT TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF THE BACK SEAT EXTREME PROBLEM IN AN EMERGENCY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY AT 80 MPH AND CAR STALLS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO THE SIDE RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER STARTED DOING AGAIN AND MORE OFTEN. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE MY CAR IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PUT A SCANNER ON THE CAR AND "THROTTLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

10%

• THE ADVANCETRACK RSC, OR TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE, ON THE 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT CAN NOT BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF. THIS HAS RESULTED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WERE THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE IN TRAFFIC IN INTERSECTIONS, PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, AND DRIVING UP ANY DEGREE OF INCLINE ON MUDDY OR SNOWY SURFA
• THIS IS A 2011 VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND IS A COURIER SO HE DOES GO QUITE A FEW MILES. ON A PART LIKE THIS, HAD TO COME DIFFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. FORD IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR VEHICLE. WE PAID $600.00 TOTAL FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH FORD AND THEIR NON EXISTANT CUSTOMER SERVICE DE
• TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS ADAPTED FOR WHEELCHAIR USE. THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE. VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD ON ANY KIND OF INCLINE WHEN VEHICLE FEELS ANY KIND OF WHEEL SPINNING. OTHERWISE WOULD OF DRIVEN UP VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. SEVERAL NEIGHBORS HELPED PUSH AND PULL. GOT TO END OF RO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE ADVANCETRACK RSC, OR TRACTION CONTROL FEATURE, ON THE 2011 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT CAN NOT BE MANUALLY TURNED OFF. THIS HAS RESULTED IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WERE THE CAR BECAME INOPERABLE IN TRAFFIC IN INTERSECTIONS, PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, AND DRIVING UP ANY DEGREE OF INCLINE ON MUDDY OR SNOWY SURFA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 30 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: RE: SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 12S36/NHTSA RECALL 12V-374. WHILE AT MY DEALERSHIP MAC HAIK FORD, 7201 S IH35. GEORGETOWN TX ON 8/6/12, I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS AT WHICH TIME THE PART(S) WERE ORDERED FOR THIS REPAIR. MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH MY DEALERSHIP WAS YESTE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: NO 3RD GEAR! THE VAN HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM!
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY AT 80 MPH AND CAR STALLS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED TO THE SIDE RESTARTED CAR EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL AGAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER STARTED DOING AGAIN AND MORE OFTEN. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE MY CAR IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PUT A SCANNER ON THE CAR AND "THROTTLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)